For those of you who have never had the pleasure of either hearing or reading the momentous "I Have A Dream" speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the following link leads to a website where you can do both: American Rhetoric: www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/Ihaveadream.htm What follows is a semi-serious rewrite of his famous speech applied to the wrestling world, in honor of this great man's contributions to American society.

I am happy to join here with you all today in what may well go down in history as one of the greatest calls for freedom in the entire storied history of our beloved Internet Wrestling Community, and perhaps in wrestling fandom itself.

One score of years ago, in the tradition his forefathers before him, a great and proud American brought forth into the world his greatest brainchild; a gala occasion known as WrestleMania. This historic event served as a ray of sunshine and a beacon in the darkness that offered hope to millions of adherents to the Sport of Kings, who for too long had been stifled by the suffocating hand of stagnancy. Finally, with the advent of the Granddaddy of them All, the sun began to peek its first morning rays over the horizon of mediocrity and repetition that had oppressed it for so long. With this metaphorical sunrise came the promise of a new future for the wrestling world, free from the blasé product of years past, and free to explore new possibilities.

Now here we are, over twenty years later and we find ourselves questioning whether or not this promise has been fulfilled. Twenty years later, and wrestling still is not free of many of the stereotypes that dominated it two decades ago. Twenty years later, and still the old prejudices of times gone by are as prevalent in wrestling today as they ever were. Twenty years later, and still the wrestling fan is haunted by the brand of the Pariah from the social unacceptability of the product they love. Twenty years later, and we have found ourselves right back in the same place we were twenty years ago. So today, I have come here with you all to lead the cry for the WWE to bring to an end this "shameful condition" and make good on that promise made so many years ago.

In some sense, we have gathered here in this corner of the internet to cash a pay check of sorts. When Vincent Kennedy McMahon laid the glorious groundwork for what would become the Biggest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania, and even for the phenomenon that came to be known as Hulkamania, he issued a bond to each and every wrestling fan the world over that they might one day cash in as a reward for their years of avid fandom and loyal support. However, it has become increasingly obvious as time has gone on that Vince and the WWE have not yet upheld their end of the bargain. Twenty years have passed, and the bonds have matured, but turning them in has only left us empty handed.

I for one refuse to believe that it is impossible for these promises to be made good on, and for these long-standing injustices to be set right. I refuse to believe that we will be denied these rewards because the future we were promised has gone bankrupt. So now we stand here as one, demanding that our debt be paid, if not by the rewards promised so long ago, then by the precious boon of freedom and justice in the wrestling world.

Discouraged though many of us may currently be, it is important that we not lose sight of the hope for a brighter tomorrow. Some of you have lived through dark times indeed; bearing witness Mae Young giving birth to Mark Henry's lovechild, which turned out to be a plastic human hand. Some of you may recall a time when even the basest of moral codes was laid in ruins; seeing the first ever re-enactment of necrophilia in wrestling's sordid history with the horror that was the Katie Vick angle. Some of you may recall the Al Wilson storyline, the Bossman stealing Big Show's father's casket, Booker T turning to voodoo, and perhaps even worse, Mr. America. Still others may remember such infamous names as The Gobbledygooker, Mantaur, Salvatore Sincere, Bastion Booger, or even Xanta Klaus. Despite all of these things, we mustn't wallow in the depths of despair and negativity, as is so often the reaction of the IWC. Though we may look back upon the difficulties and sometimes downright awful events of times past, they do not negate the hopes we still have for the future. I still have a Dream, and it is a Dream for a better tomorrow in the entire wrestling world.

I have a Dream that one day wrestling will join in with the rest of the United States of America and finally subscribe to the doctrine that all men are in fact created equal. I have a Dream that one day all men will be given the same opportunities in the WWE, regardless of Race or Creed. It is 2005, and it is absurd for a company the size and scope of the WWE to have a mere four black wrestlers spread across two rosters, and it is perhaps even more absurd that no black man has ever held the highest championship of either brand throughout the entire history of the promotion. These things are not due to a lack of talent, they are due to a lack of recognition and opportunity.

I have a Dream that one day the WWE will begin to level the playing field for all wrestlers, regardless of their Size. While I am not saying that they should make Rey Mysterio the WWE Champion, I do firmly believe that some of the most enjoyable Title reigns and main event feuds involve men of smaller stature, such as Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho. Yet despite this fact, and yes I do believe this is fact, we all too often see deserving performers passed over for men with half their talent, but twice their size.

I have a Dream that one day the WWE will once again recognize that Women are more than just objects of sex and affection and restore the Women's Division to its former status and glory. In the past, talented female wrestlers have plied their trade in front of the same crowds as the male wrestlers, and have managed to hold their own, and even draw in their own fans. The WWE needs to stop judging a woman not by her physical appearance, but by her talent and skill in the ring. It is time to go back to the well and rebuild the Women's Division into a highlight of their weekly routine. I have a Dream today!

I have a Dream that one day both Brands will be seen and treated as equals in the eyes of not only the fans, but of the officials within the WWE as well. Ever since the first days of the Brand Extension, we have seen one brand dominate the other in quality of wrestling, storylines, and overall quality. It is as though the higher-ups see one show doing better, so they let it ride while focusing all of their efforts on the other show, which then causes this balance to reverse. One brand should not be treated as above the other, and equal amounts of effort should go into both of their success. I have a Dream today!

I have a Dream that one day Society will not look upon the wrestling fan with disdain, but with the respect and courtesy given to fans of other types of sports. No longer will we be forced to hide our love for this great pastime out of fear of ridicule from our peers. No longer should we be embarrassed to publicly admit our wrestling fandom to others, be it by verbal expression, or material expression in the form of clothing, jewelry, videos or even posters. The day will soon come when wrestling fans will be treated as the equals of any other human being. I have Dreamed it, and it shall come to pass.

These are my Dreams. They are my hopes. They form the foundation of the faith that I keep with me at all times as a wrestling fan, and the faith that we should all have in the product that we love. The faith that makes us believe that better and brighter things are in store for the future of wrestling. The faith that keeps us watching during times when things just can't seem to get any worse, because we know there is light at the end of that tunnel. Perhaps most importantly, the faith that one day wrestling and its fans will be free. Free to profess and discuss our love of this sport without fear or shame. Free to explore new horizons and reach new heights. Free to break with tradition and embrace the future of the industry. But most importantly, Free from the stereotypes and prejudices of the last several decades. Great will the day be when we can look upon the wrestling world and see that our faith was well founded, and we will be able to hear the glorious sounds as we let this newfound freedom ring! So, Let Freedom Ring, from the bingo halls of MLW to the hallowed halls of the NWA. Let Freedom Ring, from the storied past of OVW to the broken glass of CZW. Let Freedom Ring, from the amazing action of ROH to the budding attraction of TNA. Let Freedom Ring, from the flagship banner of RAW to the newer standard of SmackDown!. When this happens, when this freedom rings, and wrestling, with the WWE at its helm, finally lives up to the potential it has promised for so long, that we as wrestling fans all truly believe it has within it, then we will all be able to join hands and proclaim, in the immortal words of Dr. King, "Thank God Almighty, We Are Free At Last!"

My words can never do justice to the amount of respect I have for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or accurately reflect the impact he had on this country, and continues to have to this day. Though we may not share heritage, we do share ideals, and this is my small, perhaps insignificant way to pay tribute to one of the greatest men who ever lived.

by Matt "Morpheus" Whitaker ..